St. Louis Business Journal articles from May 2001

St. Louis Business Journal archives from May 2001

Kaminer peddling Influence.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Web design and consulting firm reportedly owes creditors $5 million, has assets of $2 million Craig Kaminer is shopping for a buyer for Influence LLC and has at least one offer on the table, according to people familiar with the company....

Hardgrove to retire, Garcia leaving KETC.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... KETC-TV/Channel 9 President and Chief Executive Michael Hardgrove is expected to retire next year after 23 years at the station. That news follows the April 11 announcement that Ted Garcia, 52, executive vice president, chief operating...

Competitors force Bank of America to alter trust unit.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Bank of America's Private Bank in St. Louis has turned to Mary Jane Block, a Boatmen's Trust Co. veteran, to get on the road to recovery, following several years 'of defections by senior executives. Block, in the newly created job of...

Cards owners worth $4 billion.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Investments include Arby's Churchill Downs, plantation resort, Pulitzer and Tribune publishing As debate rages over the Cardinals ballpark proposal, many people question whether the team owners are paying their fair share. The 17 known...

Got junk?(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Orthopedic surgeon by day and junk hauler by night, Dr. Robert Lander, a west St. Louis County physician, and his partner Jeff Hochman, owner of G.W Trading, have invested $40,000 in two 1-800-Got-Junk franchises. 1-800-Got-Junk, based in...

Downtown's directors.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Tom Reeves, executive director of Downtown Now! will not be stepping into the empty president's spot at the Downtown Saint Louis Partnership, the business membership organization focused on enhancing downtown. Nor is there any discussion at the...

New set of wheels.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Jerald Kent, president and chief executive of Charter Communications Inc., received a total of $2.4 million in compensation in 2000, up from $1.95 million in 1999, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Kent's...

Road trip.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis will be taking its show on the road, thanks in part to a recent $35,000 gift from AT&T. About 15 members of the Opera Theatre staff will fly to Tokyo in September to perform the Tale of Genji, an original opera...

In the air.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... American Airlines has stenciled TWA LLC on the tails of all Trans World Airlines' aircraft, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration to identify TWA as a limited liability company. It's one of the first signs of the American buyout of...

Tiger territory.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... The University of Missouri-Columbia is opening its first off-campus center in Bellerive Plaza in Creve Coeur. The 2,650-square-foot Mizzou Connection, which will open in July, will be a retail location for Mizzou merchandise as well as a ticket...

Spicing it up.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Downtown Maplewood will be home to Missouri's first Penzeys Spices. The retail spice seller, which stocks its stores with 250 varieties of herbs and spices, will open late this summer at 7338 Manchester Road in a recently remodeled building...

Up for bid.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... The St. Louis Rams are heading to the online auction block to raise money for the Rams Foundation. Items such as a helmet signed by 15 players, a Marshall Faulk-autographed mini ball and a Rams Super Bowl XXXIV diamond tie tack are up for bid...

NuVox pays to keep WorkNet system running through May.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Hopes to pick up WorkNet's 500 local business customers NuVox Communications Inc. is paying an undisclosed amount to keep WorkNet Communications' local wireless Internet system running through May. The arrangement gives...

RSI leaves Brentwood for new complex in Rock Hill.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... RSI Kitchen & Bath is building a new showroom, office and warehouse in Rock Hill. The company will close in about a week on the former Stivers Lincoln-Mercury dealership, 9700 Manchester Road, said RSI President Tony Piazza. The...

Acquisition expected to push sales to $45 million at modular builder.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Chesterfield-based PortaFab Corp. expects to see its revenue triple this year to roughly $45 million, and anticipates adding 160 people to its staff of 65 following its acquisition of the manufacturing portion of Cupples International's...

Correction.
May 4, 2001... Tech Guard Tech Guard Security provides technology security products and services. The name of the company was inaccurate in the April 27 issue.

Professor's invention attracts MasterCard.(Ron Indeck, Magneprint credit card fraud protection system)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... When Ron Indeck discovered his attraction to magnets, he had no idea it would lead to combating credit card fraud. Indeck, director of the Magnetics and Information Science Center at Washington University, has developed a system that will...

Biotech startup receives $1.4 million from backers.(Divergence)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Derek Rapp, ex-Monsanto executive, joins as CEO Divergence, which is developing technology to neutralize harmful parasites, has raised $1.4 million in its initial round of fund raising. The local biotech startup company attracted...

UnitedHealthcare's Turvey names 6 to regional posts.(Vic Turvey)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Vic Turvey, head of UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, the area's largest health maintenance organization, has named six people to new, regional posts. The appointments followed Turvey's Jan. 29 appointment as president of the Midwest Region...

Recent New York buyer negotiates to resell Sverdrup Plaza building.(Armand Lasky)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Just four months after paying an estimated $13.5 million for Sverdrup Plaza, New York businessman Armand Lasky is negotiating to sell it to another out-of-town buyer. Lasky, president of Empire State Collateral Corp., said he wasn't...

Home-grown.(Schnuck Markets Inc., Warren County farmers form alliance)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... Schnucks forms alliance with Missouri, Illinois farmers To supply customers with ripe raspberries in the dead of winter or fresh Gala apples in May, Mike O'Brien and his managers check out farms in exotic places -- berry plantations in...

Charter Communications Inc.(first-quarter losses)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... Charter Communications Inc. reported a first-quarter loss of $280.7 million, after a loss of $180.7 million for the same quarter last year. Revenue for the quarter was $873.8 million, up 21 percent from $721.6 million for the prior year's...

C-3D Digital Inc.(will merge with Another World Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... C-3D Digital Inc. plans to merge with Korean-based Another World Inc. Another World, a research and technology company that provides 3D and virtual reality products, will pay C-3D Digital $3.5 million in cash for a 51-percent interest in...

Allegiant Bancorp.(will acquire Southside Bancshares)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Allegiant Bancorp has signed an agreement to acquire Southside Bancshares. Southside shareholders will receive half of the merger consideration in $14 per share and the other half in 1.39 shares of Allegiant stock for each share of...

Huntco Inc.(closes plant, sells assets)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Huntco Inc. will permanently close its cold rolling and coil pickling plant in Blytheville, Ark., within 60 clays. About 100 workers will be affected by the closure. The company said it is selling the Blytheville assets to...

Savvis Communications Corp.(Reuters Group Plc will acquire Bridge Information Systems assets)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... As part of Reuters Group Plc's winning bid for some of the assets of Bridge Information Systems, Savvis Communications Corp. will get up to $7.5 million a month from Reuters until the deal closes in about four months. Bridge will get up to...

Pulaski Bank.(acquisition of First Bancorp of Indiana off)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Pulaski Bank is dropping its plans to acquire First Bancorp of Indiana. Chief Executive William Donius said Pulaski earned almost $437,000 selling its nearly 100,000 shares in the Indiana bank. Last month, First Bancorp of Indiana...

Milnot Holding Co.(ends proposed merger agreement with H.J. Heinz Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Milnot Holding Co. and the H.J. Heinz Corp. have terminated their proposed merger agreement, after the U.S. Court of Appeals also terminated the merger Friday because of anti-trust concerns. The merger was first proposed in February 2000....

PEOPLE.(multiple personnel changes)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Accounting Brown Smith Wallace added Robert Lawson as managing principal and Robert Jurotich and James Sutton as tax managers. Anthony Caleca, Brenda Sheperd and Stephen Varley have been promoted to principals. Robin Bell has been promoted...

Asking the right questions.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... The ability to ask questions is an important factor in communication between people. Asking the right questions is one of the best ways to find out, or make sure, what the other person means. "Did I understand you to say so and so?" is the...

Designing Woman.(Diane Katzman Jewelry Design)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Diane Katzman's math exercise adds up to $1.2 million jewelry design business Business activity: Diane Katzman wanted her three young daughters to improve their math skills. Her solution was to have them learn counting and multiplication...

Two groups join to offer manufacturing assistance.(Missouri Enterprise)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... The Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center and the Missouri Enterprise Business Assistance Center have changed the name of the joint program from MAMTC-Missouri to Missouri Enterprise. The services of the two groups are being...

Sole Survivor.(new location)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Sole Survivor, a 15-year-old leather goods store owned by Steve and Kay Reye, is again producing leather sandals and caps in its new location, 6161 Delmar, next to the Pageant Theatre. With larger quarters, the shop also expanded its product...

Scholastic Inc.(2001 Missouri Industry of the Year Award )(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Scholastic Inc. of Jefferson City was named winner of the 2001 Missouri Industry of the Year Award for large companies in a competition sponsored by Associated Industries of Missouri. The Mid-Missouri Business Journal and the St. Louis Business...

LARGEST LOCAL GENERAL CONTRACTORS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... LARGEST LOCAL GENERAL CONTRACTORS (RANKED BY 2000 COMPANYWIDE REVENUE) 2000 companywide...

LARGEST HOME BUILDERS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... LARGEST HOME BUILDERS (RANKED BY 2000 LOCAL HOME-BUILDING REVENUE) 2000 local Company (rank last year) revenue/ ...

CVC says: Be a tourist in your own town.(St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Will the expected high price of gasoline be keeping residents close to home this summer vacation season? If so, they're living in the right place. In St. Louis everyone can "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" and have a tank full of fun on only a...

New campaign urges businesses to meet at home.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Conventions and tourism are good business for St. Louis. That's one of the reasons why the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission is asking local business leaders to work with them to keep their upcoming meetings and conventions at home in...

Hotel growth improves St. Louis for conventions, visitors.(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... As anyone who has walked through downtown lately knows, St. Louis is experiencing an unprecedented hotel building, branding and renovation boom. Several new downtown St. Louis hotels are in the works or newly opened including a 1,000-plus...

TV, print and co-op campaigns brand St. Louis.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Here in St. Louis residents turn on the television this time of year and see ads urging them to go to Chicago, Texas, Kansas City and other destinations. What most St. Louisans don't know is that the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission...

Internet visitors spend more, stay longer in St. Louis.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Each year the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission orders an advertising conversion study designed to measure the effectiveness of their advertising and public relations placements and to look at a number of variables including visitor...

CVC service program gets results.(St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, Positively Outrageous St. Louis Service program)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... "We want visitors to leave St. Louis saying, "Wow!" That's what Paulette Koons, membership director for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, says about the Positively Outrageous St. Louis Service (POSS) program she administers...

Missouri's tourism industry celebrates record year during National Tourism Week.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... Representatives of Missouri's $12.9 billion tourism industry will take to the streets and the airwaves the week of May 6-12, 2001 to celebrate National Tourism Week and remind, business and civic leaders throughout the Show-Me State that...

Laclede Awards 2001.
May 4, 2001... More than 250 entries poured in for this year's Laclede Awards, honoring the Best Places to Work in St. Louis. The economic climate is different than a year ago, when dot-coms still sizzled. But even in a more cautious world, companies...

Mackey Mitchell and Associates.(one of Best Places to Work)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 50 or fewer employees Employee development and business development go hand-in-hand at Mackey Mitchell and Associates, said Paul Wuennenberg, principal at the architectural firm. "Our business is a talent- and skill-driven industry,"...

ARCO Construction Co.(practicing core values and purpose)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 50-250 Employees Since Matt Ladd joined ARCO Construction Co. nearly three years ago, he's discovered that a company can establish core values and purpose that are practiced, not forgotten. "I've had the benefit of being on the design...

Edward Jones.(leader in developing employees for success)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 250 and more employees Edward Jones' expertise in managing growth is not limited to things financial. The financial services firm is also a leader in developing its employees for success through extensive training, a grassroots...

Managed Care Strategies Inc.(family friendly work environment)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 50 or fewer employees Managed Care Strategies Inc. has created a family friendly work environment by providing maximum flexibility, including working at home, part-time employment with benefits, on-site day care for summer and the...

The Booksource.(family friendly workplace)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 50-250 Employees Charlie Kelpe had used nearly all his vacation when his wife was hospitalized earlier this year. While the hospital, doctors and medicine were helping his wife, Kelpe's co-workers at The Booksource helped him. They...

Bank of America.(one of best companies for working mothers)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 250 or more employees When it comes to being family friendly, Bank of America is consistent. The largest bank in the United States has won national awards for its policies, including being named one of the 10 Best Companies for...

DELOITTE & TOUCHE SALUTES A.G. EDWARDS.(Benjamin F. Edwards III)
May 4, 2001... What transpired a few week ago happened without fanfare or trumpets blaring; it happened with dignity, quickly and reflectively; it meant the end of an era, but it also meant the beginning of an exciting journey. A.G. Edwards, one of Deloitte...

SSM Health Care-St. Louis.(employee partnership)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... Nonprofit The employees at SSM Health Care-St. Louis are more than workers -- they. are partners, said Ron Levy, president of SSM, one of the largest health-care organizations in the United States. "SSM has made employee partnership a...

Nexstar.(core values include recognition of employees)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 50-250 employees Nexstar founders -- Marvin Moskowitz, Rick Thornberry and Jerry Halbrook -- each had decades of experience in the mortgage business when they convinced the Kolberg Kravis Roberts investment house to financially back their...

The Vandiver Group.(encouraging individuality)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 50 or fewer employees Employers often give lip service to the value each employee brings to a company, but everyone really does have a role in defining the culture of The Vandiver Group, said owner Donna Vandiver. There is no "pecking...

Build-A-Bear Workshop.(flexible work schedules and telecommuting)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
May 4, 2001... 250 or more employees World Bearquarters is far from typically corporate, and that is just the way Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, likes it. Employees zoom down the blue-carpeted hallways on scooters, dogs and kids are...

City of O'Fallon, Mo.("Team O'Fallon", camaraderie and philosophy)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Nonprofit It's easy to spot an 0'Fallon, Mo., city employee. Dan Lewis, an equipment operator for the street department, wears his "Team O'Fallon" jacket on cool days. Melinda Bostic in human resources. and Chris Look with the design...

Administaff.(customer service awards program)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... 50 or fewer employees Happy customers, teamwork and productivity translate to success. That's the impetus behind Administaff's employee recognition awards. The company's programs were singled out for praise by the the Best Places...

Cejka & Co.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... 50-250 employees Managers thank workers for doing a good job and encourage them to keep improving at Cejka & Co. Those thank-yous have taken many forms. The President's/Manager's Club, which rewards top producers with items such as...

Sunnen Products Co.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... 250 and more employees Sunnen Products Co. employees aren't surprised when management tells them to go jump in a lake. The lake, you see, is the Sunnen Lake recreational facility. It's one of many incentives for employees, retirees and...

City of Richmond Heights.(Audrey Lewis appreciates work environment)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Non-Profits Despite repeated pleas from her mother to move to California, Audrey Lewis is happy where she is, thank-you. A secretary for the Public Works department of the city of Richmond Heights, Lewis has no ties to the St. Louis area,...

Hitting the high notes.(Opera Theater of St. Louis)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Opera is the fastest-growing art form today. And there's no better place to try it than in St. Louis, with a visit to the internationally known Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. During the months of May and June, the LorettoHilton in Webster Groves...

The Wig Master.(Tom Watson)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Who do you call for the best selection of hair pieces in the United States? Tom Watson, who recently took time out from his work at NYC's Metropolitan Opera to talk hair. "Wigs can cost up to $3,000 a piece, like the ones I just built for Renee...

Opera for suits.
May 4, 2001... There is one opera this season which is perfect for those who are in need of a good guttural laugh after a long day at the office. Offenbach's "The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein" is one big satirical romp. At a recent concept presentation in...

Pop!(champagnes become popular)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... OK, so you've tasted the apple martini in South Beach and the chocolate martini is "sooo last year." Now what? Pommery Pop and other "baby bottles" of champagne are fast becoming the hot drink this season. The rage started in Paris, then made...

Singing CEO.(Kevin Eichner)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Opera Theatre of Saint Louis board member Kevin Eichner could probably walk on in one of several roles this season. The CEO of GenAmerica started singing at age 13; his first gig was with a synagogue in Kansas City. He's also sung with the...

Salsa!(VIVA gives free salsa classes)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... If you're looking for the place to salsa, check out VIVA, 408 N. Euclid, on any given Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening. Susan Werremeyer of the Forum for Contemporary Art, and other "twenty and thirty somethings" take the free salsa classes...

Stock Transactions.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... The following purchases or sales of stock in St. Louis-based companies or in companies with St. Louis-based subsidiaries or divisions have been reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by officers, directors and owners of more...

On board.(top officers of the Missouri Historical Society and their salaries)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... Money and management at nonprofit organizations Missouri Historical Society Robert Archibald President Founded in 1866, the Missouri Historical Society operates an urban history center that includes the Missouri History Museum in...

For what it's worth.(commercial real estate transactions in the St. Louis area)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Highlighting some of the most recent commercial real estate transactions in the St. Louis area. LOCATION: 520 Scranton, Riverview DATE SOLD: Jan. 4, 2001 NEW OWNER: International Building Co. LLC AGENT: Not available ...

Proxy corner.(Kellwood Co. officers and their compensation; major stock holders)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 4, 2001... Money and management at companies with publicly traded stock. KELLWOOD CO. Hal J. Upbin Chairman, president and chief executive Kellwood Co. manufactures and sells apparel under both name-brand and private labels to more than...

A closer look.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... THE THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO BUSINESS LEADS It's May -- the month St. Louis celebrates just about everythink. Opera Theatre, Grand Center, COCA and Coro are only a handful of not-for-profits that have major fund-raising events...

St Louis Stocks.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... St Louis Stocks Close Close Company Symbol Exchange 4/25/01 4/2/01 A.G. Edwards AGE N $39.72 $42.98...

Argosy Gaming Co.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... April 24, $28.29 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Outperform. Earnings per share of 50 cents were significantly ahead of the consensus estimate of 46 cents and our estimate of 48 cents. Revenue growth was a solid 4 percent, but EBITDA was...

Express Scripts.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... April 19, $91.81 A.G. Edwards Accumulate/Aggressive. Express Scripts reported first quarter fully diluted earnings per share of 71 cents, up 29 percent year over year, in line with our estimate and a penny ahead of consensus. The...

Amdocs.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... April 20, $55.24 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strong Buy. Amdocs reported very solid third quarter results. Revenue was $372 million and earnings per share were 30 cents, versus our forecasts of $371 million in revenue and earnings per...

Adamson buys DG&A.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Adamson Inc., the region's seventh-largest advertising and marketing firm, has acquired DG&A Advertising in Clayton. The combination brings roughly $900,000 in revenue to Adamson, primarily from DG&A's work for clients including USA Federal...

Triangle Systems merges operations in Union Seventy.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2001... Triangle Systems has consolidated its St. Louis and Cincinnati warehousing operations into 167,000 square feet of distribution space at Union Seventy Center Business Park in north St. Louis. Triangle, a division of Clayton-based idX Corp.,...

Business sense and ballpark negotiations.
May 4, 2001... St. Louis lost a wise counselor this year when Elliot Stein died. We could have used his tact, insight and intelligence as we labored through negotiations between the St. Louis Cardinals and the city and state over funding mechanisms for a new...

The true measure.
May 4, 2001... Phil (I'll call him) had indeed been attending a lot of meetings recently, but many of them were not of the usual kind. Phil, a longtime and dear pal of mine, is generally a very busy fellow... He's at the top of his business and political...

Sizing up Slay's challenges, phone competition.(Letter to the Editor)
May 4, 2001... Phone competition Editor: In the interest of balance, the April 13th letter from Neil Larsen at WorldCom should not go unchallenged. Mr. Larsen claims that local phone competition, especially residential service, is lacking in...

Four partners defect from Armstrong.(Armstrong Teasdale; Steve Sanders, Paul Venker, Ted Williams Jr., Thomas Orris)(Brief Article)
May 11, 2001... Litigators form new firm; clients A-B, BJC HealthCare, Shell Oil expected to follow Four partners are leaving Armstrong Teasdale to form their own litigation firm. They are Steve Sanders, 51; Paul Venker, 45; Ted Williams Jr., 53; and...

May's exec bonuses hit by retail downturn.(May Department Stores Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 11, 2001... Top executives at May Department Stores Co. missed out on about two-thirds of their potential bonus pay in 2000 after the department store chain failed to meet performance targets. A proxy statement filed April 20 shows that the St....

Ralston, Ameren, Downtown Now! put $500,000 in Chouteau study.(Ralston Purina Co., Ameren Charitable Trust and Downtown Now! support feasibility study for developing Chouteau Lake District of St Louis, Missouri)(Brief Article)
May 11, 2001... Ralston Purina Co., Ameren Charitable Trust and Downtown Now! are contributing $500,000 for feasibility studies for the proposed Chouteau Lake District. Unveiled by developer McCormack Baron & Associates last year, the 195-acre Chouteau...

Life after high school.(Christian Brothers College High School hopes to sell old campus in Clayton, Missouri)(Brief Article)
May 11, 2001... CBC wants $16 million for campus; Clayton wants housing there -- developers say numbers don't work Christian Brothers College High School wants to pay for nearly half of its new $35 million Town & Country campus with money from the sale of...